High shadows loom on garden walls.
They tremble in the winter’s breeze.
As from the heavens powder falls,
they mimic naked limbs of trees.
They tremble in the winter’s breeze;
forlorn, they sway as low winds moan.
They mimic naked limbs of trees.
Frail shadows now have thicker grown.
Forlorn, they sway as low winds moan.
The winds surcease, no more to blow.
Frail shadows now have thicker grown.
On arms of trees are coats of snow!
The winds surcease, no more to blow.
As from the heavens powder falls,
on arms of trees are coats of snow.
High shadows loom on garden walls.
3/16/15 For the Repeat After Me contest of Rachael Firmin

He walked down Goverment Road West
With a white cane, in shaking hand
Wearing Stevie wonder glasses
People called him the pop bottle man
With a white cane, in shaking hand
At the time he seemed old to me
People called him the pop bottle man
Searching the alleys for his treasures
At the time he seemed old to me
Frail in a menacing sorta way
Searching the alleys for his treasures
Bottles he spotted a mile away
Frail in a menacing sorta way
Us kids all stayed away from him
Bottles he spotted a mile away
I wondered why he carried a white cane
Us kids all stayed away from him
Until that day I took a chance
I wondered why he carried a white cane
Curiosity got the best of me
Until that day I took a chance
That man had been a mystery
Curiosity got the best of me
When I asked him why he smiled at me
That man had been a mystery
A lonely guy wandering the street
When I asked him why, he smiled at me
I handed him my bottle, he said thanks
A lonely guy wandering the street
Wearing Stevie wonder glasses
I handed him my bottle, he said thanks
He walked down Goverment Road West
I watch
Pop Bottle Man
Doing his blind man shuffle
When he sees a bottle
he moves towards it with ease
Dancing with glee
a spring in his step
More fluid than a summer breeze
He can see at twenty paces
Eyesight crystal clear
Through dark glasses
I watch him peer
Collecting his bottles
In plastic bags
The treasure that he holds so dear
Pop Bottle Man
His cane for protection
Illusion is the game he plays
What some see as crazy
May not be the case
If you take time to study his ways
For Gautami's Sketch a Character Contest.
I was inspired to write more after the Pantoum because of Drakes Comment.
written by Richard Lamoureux on October 23, 2014.

Is something wonderful in store for me?
I feel it near and almost hear the pulse of it!
What’s around the corner? What can it be?
So far, a butterfly, it only wants to flit.
I feel it near and almost hear the pulse of it.
It has to be so beautiful. It can’t be bad!
So far, a butterfly, it only wants to flit!
I race with time to find out something glad.
It has to be so beautiful! It can’t be bad. . .
Like Tony and Maria in the West Side Story,
I race with time to find out something glad -
to sparkle like a star that finds its glory!
Like Tony and Maria in the West Side Story,
I sing, “Tonight won’t be just any night.”
To sparkle like a star that finds its glory!
Surely round the corner cannot be plight!
I sing, “Tonight won’t be just any night!”
Aflutter with anticipation, I’ve found hope.
Surely round the corner cannot be plight.
Is destiny my friend, or am I just a dope?
Aflutter with anticipation, I’ve found hope.
What’s around the corner? What can it be?
Is destiny my friend? Or am I just a dope?
Is something wonderful in store for me?
Written 10/16/14 for the Contest of Francine Roberts

Come, watch with me my darling child, before you go to bed
Here, hold my hand, while evening comes and takes the day away
Evening shadows tiptoe to what the sun has said
And now it's time to listen, to what the moon will say
Here, hold my hand, while evening comes and takes the day away
We'll watch the sun dip gently, in the cooling twilight air
And now it's time to listen, to what the moon will say
All the daytime weary creatures, have gone to nest and lair
We'll watch the sun dip gently in the cooling twilight air
Let's be witness to the fire that burns in evening's sky
All the daytime weary creatures, have gone to nest and lair
While twilight paints it's crimson colors on a canvas vast and wide
Let's be witness to the fire that burns in evening's sky
Time suspends as if one moment, in this fragile hush of time
While twilight paints it's crimson colors on a canvas vast and wide
And then we'll see the faintest trace of stars begin to climb
Time suspends as if one moment, in this fragile hush of time
So gently, watch the dark erase the last of fading light
And then we'll see the faintest trace of stars begin to climb
Enclosing us within the change, of shadows of the night
So gently, watch the dark erase the last of fading light
Evening shadows tiptoe to what the sun has said
Enclosing us within the change, of shadows of the night
Come, watch with me my darling child, before you go to bed...
____________
6//26/13

November’s sitting at her loom.
For gown of lace, a wrap she weaves,
And when she meets her dauntless groom,
They’ll dance among the fallen leaves.
For gown of lace, a wrap she weaves.
Her groom shall wear a silver suit.
They’ll dance among the fallen leaves,
Their special song, a lone owl’s hoot.
Her groom shall wear a silver suit.
She’ll don the woven pearl-gray shawl.
Their special song, a lone owl’s hoot,
They’ll waltz at Autumn’s farewell ball.
She’ll don the woven pearl-gray shawl,
And when she meets her dauntless groom,
They’ll waltz at Autumn’s farewell ball.
November’s sitting at her loom.
By Andrea Dietrich
For SandyIvy's Good Enough Poetry Contest

I shall indulge in a glorious decadence,
caressing the softness of your bronze skin.
Luxuriating in your coconut scented splendor,
as I gorge on the succulence of your bounty.
Caressing the softness of your bronze skin,
it is impossible to imagine a greater pleasure.
As I gorge on the succulence of your bounty,
my mouth craves to know you completely....
It is impossible to imagine a greater pleasure,
Consummate with me our boundless passion!
My mouth craves to know you completely,
let our bodies be instruments of true loves expression.
Consummate with me our boundless passion,
leaving not a single desire unexpressed.
Let our bodies be instruments true loves expression,
only then can we truly be transformed.
Leaving not a single desire unexpressed,
luxuriating in your coconut scented splendor.
Only then can we truly be transformed.
We shall indulge in a glorious decadence!
Written February 4th 2015
For Shadow's indulgence Contest

The thought of seeing you again fills me with dread
I know the day will come; it’s inevitable
Mileage on my heart, feels like a worn out retread
Recycled emotions are undesirable
I know the day will come; it’s inevitable
My spirits sink at the mere mention of your name
Recycled emotions are undesirable
There was once a time your face set my heart aflame
My spirits sink at the mere mention of your name
What happened to those days? You were my special man
There was once a time your face set my heart aflame
This point we’ve reached was surely not in our game plan
What happened to those days? You were my special man
Our spring turned to winter faster than I could blink
This point we’ve reached was surely not in our game plan
Stop the world, let me off; I’m standing on the brink
Our spring turned to winter faster than I could blink
Mileage on my heart, feels like a worn out retread
Stop the world, let me off; I’m standing on the brink
The thought of seeing you again fills me with dread
By Carolyn Devonshire
For Paula Swanson’s “Pantoum” contest

He was my sun, my one and only son,
and dressed up as a cowboy for the day.
And so I handed him a little gun
of fastened random sticks, for him to shoot and play.
And dressed up as a cowboy for the day
he found some foes (with bows and arrows made
of fastened random sticks for them) to shoot, and play
the part of redskins in a mock charade.
He found some foes (with bows and arrows made)
in his story books before he left for school.
The parts of redskins, in a mock charade,
were tainted with a crimson war paint, oh so cruel.
In history books, before he left from school -
the tales retold, of victories that we’d won,
were tainted with a crimson war paint, oh so cruel -
the flow of paint was not to staunch when once begun.
From tales retold, of victories that we’d won,
he learned to fight for god and country glory, though
the flow of pain, ’twas not to staunch when once begun
and cruel to both sides (as he’d later come to know).
He learned to fight for god and country glory, though
the wounds of war were still unseen (though nigh)
and cruel to both sides (as we’d later come to know);
and soon he stuffed his bag with several things of youth and said goodbye.
The wounds of war were still unseen. Though nigh,
the hours boomed, the clock struck 12, before his time to leave,
and soon he stuffed his bag with several things of youth and said goodbye
to those who’d stay and even those who didn’t grieve.
The hours boomed, the clock struck 12, before his time to leave -
they brought back bags they’d stuffed with severed things of those who’d died
to those who’d stayed. And even those who didn’t grieve
with tears were stiff and masked like wooden boxes meant to hide.
They brought back bags they’d stuffed with severed things of those who’d died.
They brought his boots back, camouflaged with mud.
With tears, the stiff were masked in wooden boxes meant to hide
our children from the spilling of their blood.
They brought his boots back, camouflaged with mud.
They said they’d needed him to help defend
our children from the spilling of their blood.
But can they ever see or really comprehend?
They said they’d needed him to help defend,
and so they handed him a little gun.
But can they ever see or really comprehend?
He was my sun, my one and only son...

Ah, memory is a fickle lover succumbing to the tide
grasping for the grains of sentiment sometimes left.
In cold or torrid waves, spent passions now abide
for you have left me, long ago, I'm now, alone bereft.
Grasping for the grains of sentiment sometimes left:
beside a roaring bonfire, where sparks on night winds glide;
for you have left me, long ago, I'm now alone, bereft.
I huddle in a dune's dark shade with nothing left inside.
Beside a roaring bonfire, where sparks on night winds glide,
we conceive a wayward child, a changeling child, a thief.
I huddle in a dune's dark shade with nothing left inside,
as the waves of age and ages, return only grief.
We conceive a wayward child, a changeling child, a thief.
In cold or torrid waves, spent passion now abides,
as the waves of age and ages, return only grief,
ah, memory is a fickle lover succumbing to the tide.

I follow the path of flowers that’s near
Each one a little different than the next
I desire to be close, with petals dear
Their blossoms are fancy and quite complex
Each one a little different than the next
I can smell their fragrance in the calm air
Their blossoms are fancy and quite complex
There’s not a bit of dismay nor despair
I can smell their fragrance in the calm air
There is peace and tranquility about
There’s not a bit of dismay nor despair
Living things they are, I sure will not pout
There is peace and tranquility about
I kneel down to pluck one up off the ground
Living things they are, I sure will not pout
The flowers, though loud, are the best around
I kneel down to pluck one up off the ground
The flower is red, that’s full of beauty
The flowers, though loud, are the best around
I’ve been blessed to see them actually
The flower is red, that’s full of beauty
I desire to be close, with petals dear
I’ve been blessed to see them actually
I follow the path of flowers that’s near

You flew to me from beyond the clouds
Sent to soothe my troubled heart
I felt the warmth of your kiss on my forehead
In that moment my sadness blew away
Sent to soothe my troubled heart
You looked deep within my very soul
In that moment my sadness blew away
With your help I escaped the gray
You looked deep within my very soul
A breath of light into the darkness
With your help I escaped the gray
Your angel eyes looked into mine
A breath of light into the darkness
So much comfort yet no words spoken
Your angel eyes looked into mine
For me a glimpse of heaven's glory
So much comfort yet no words spoken
I felt the warmth of your kiss on my forehead
For me a glimpse of heaven's glory
You flew to me from beyond the clouds

She wrapped herself in a beautiful lie
Bound so tight she was unable to fly
Slave to some pictues in a magazine
The essence of her could barely be seen
Bound so tight she was unable to fly
Choices she had made but didn't know why
The essence of her could barely be seen
The face of a woman who's only a teen
Choices she had made but didn't know why
Taking her love from a much older guy
The face of a woman who's only a teen
Absorbing sad from the places she's been
Taking her love from a much older guy
Minutes became years as her youth went by
Absorbing sad from the places she's been
Wanted happy but became sad and mean
Minutes became years as her youth went by
Life of desperation and getting high
Wanted happy but became sad and mean
Pain began early when she was fourteen
Life of desperation and getting high
She wrapped herself in a beautiful lie
Pain began early when she was fourteen
Slave to some pictures in a magazine

Colored wildflowers form
In fields of grassy green
They don’t recall, the day they were born
They only love to be seen.
In fields of grassy green
They claim their place in life
They only love to be seen
Though they are, scarred by strife.
They claim their place in life
They beautify the land
Though they are, scarred by strife
They’re placed by Gods’ own hand.
They beautify the land
Like colors on a palette
They’re placed by Gods’ own hand
They couldn’t grow without it.
Like colors on a palette
They blend well in a field
They couldn’t grow without it
At home there, they can feel.
They blend well in a field
Wildflowers that are born
At home there, they can feel
Colored wildflowers form.

Faded photographs; a sentimental knick knack;
a much loved movie from so many years ago.
The times I chance on things like these, it takes me back.
The person that I used to be, I hardly know.
A much loved movie from so many years ago -
so out of style today, not like it used to seem.
The person that I used to be, I hardly know.
Time brought me swiftly to the Now. It seems a dream.
So out of style today, not like it used to seem -
that saved old pair of jeans; that certain special song.
Time brought me swiftly to the Now. It seems a dream,
I grow unsure if in this new world I belong.
That saved old pair of jeans; that certain special song;
the times I chance on things like these, they take me back.
I grow unsure if in this new world I belong.
Faded photographs; a sentimental knick knack!

Leather jacket draped over her shoulders
My feeble attempt at gallantry
Protecting sweet maiden from the cold
A small smile spreads over her face
My feeble attempt at gallantry
Still I longed for the rain to reveal her breasts
A small smile spreads over her face
The rain would have soaked her blouse
Still I longed for the rain to reveal her breasts
The fabric clinging to those lovely curves
The rain would have soaked her blouse
We ran together my hand around her waist
The fabric clinging to those lovely curves
I could feel her softness my heart pounding
We ran together my hand around her waist
Coming to rest under an old oak tree
I could feel her softness my heart pounding
She allowed my hands to explore
Coming to rest under an old oak tree
Lips joined as my jacket fell to the ground
She allowed my hands to explore
My feeble attempt at Gallantry
Created the moment that brought me here
A small smile spreads over her face
I broke the Pantoum form with the very last line but
I prefer it this way. Besides, my hands were already engaged.
Leather Jacket on Shoulders Contest

Tucked in a box of memories
is a smile lost long, long, ago.
Tattered by the harshest of winds
left buried beneath the winter's snow;
is a smile lost long, long, ago.
A tear that never ever fell,
Left buried beneath the winter's snow.
A secret pain, she could not tell.
A tear that never, ever, fell;
tattered by the harshest of winds,
a secret pain she could not tell,
tucked in a box of memories.
Held delicately in tissue
like a soft touch from God’s own hand;
the snapshot of mother and child.
An unplanned memory returned
like a soft touch from God's own hand.
Time sweeps every thought away.
An unplanned memory returned,
newborn on winter's coldest day.
Time sweeps every thought away -
the snapshot of mother and child,
newborn on winter's coldest day
held delicately in tissue.

The fairest of all the roses
in the walled garden’s afternoon hush,
this blossom delicately poses,
making the other blooms blush,
In the walled garden’s afternoon hush,
while standing enticingly
making the other blooms blush,
is a beauty gazing at me.
While standing enticingly,
with her soft upswept auburn hair,
is a beauty gazing at me.
She answers this lonely man’s prayer!
With soft upswept auburn hair;
in her long flowing gown of white,
she answers this lonely man’s prayer,
making the garden grow bright.
In her long flowing gown of white,
this blossom delicately poses,
making the garden grow bright -
the fairest of all the roses!
For the George Dunlop Leslie Poetry Contest of Isaiah Zerbst

The Picture is called "In Walled Garden" See at this link: http://www.ebay.com/itm/GEORGE-DUNLOP-LESLIE-In-Walled-Garden-print-NEW-/190409030838

She lets him lift her with hands of light
Discarding tattered robes of darkness
Warmth penetrating her broken heart
Some promises really do come true
Discarding tattered robes of darkness
Why is it such a hard thing to do?
Some promises really do come true
We need to look well beyond ourselves
Why is it such a hard thing to do?
Strange comfort comes from the pain we hold
We need to look well beyond ourselves
Listen for the sound of a gentle knock
Strange comfort comes from the pain we hold
Suitcases that are too heavy to hold
Listen for the sound of a gentle knock
He promises to take them away
Suitcases that are too heavy to hold
Warmth penetrating her broken heart
He promises to take them away
She lets him lift her with hands of light

As winter's gloom descends upon the trees
Autumn slumbers 'neath the fallen leaves
Spring's distant dream is yet to be perceived
As trees weep in the cold silence of their grief
Autumn slumbers 'neath the fallen leaves
As a lone bird sings a melancholy song
The trees weep in the cold silence of their grief
To a songbird's ode to autumns gone
As a lone bird sings a melancholy song
A sad song within my heart is born
As I hear the songbird's ode to autumns gone
That echoes in the twilight until morn
A sad song within my heart is born
As winter's frost through the forest spawns
The songbird's ode to autumn echoes until morn
Before it takes its envied flight to warmer dawns
As winter's frost through the forest spawns
Spring's distant dream is yet to be perceived
Then the songbird takes its envied flight to warmer dawns
As winter's gloom descends upon the trees
~~
----------------------------------------------------

Blue velvet was the rose gifted my heart.
Poet was he and blue the blood from his thorn,
a rose as blue as the summer skies
a rose as blue as his ice blue eyes.
Poet was he and blue the blood from his thorn.
So gifted was he with the blue roses form.
a rose as blue as his ice blue eyes,
with thorns as sharp as his beguiling lies.
So gifted was he with the blue roses form
a rose as blue as the summer skies
with thorns as sharp as his beguiling lies.
Blue velvet was the rose gifted my heart.

My love you may call me day and night
Because I think of you anyway, all day long
I cannot live without you day or night
And in this I don't see anything wrong
Because I think of you anyway all day long
You may want to call me any time you want
And in this I don't see anything wrong
Living without your love I can't
You may want to call me any time you want
Do it night and day all the time
Living without your love I can't
And into eternity we can sing and with love rhyme
Do it night and day all the time
I cannot live without you day or night
And into eternity we can sing and with love rhyme
My love you may call me day and night.
Dorian Petersen Potter
aka ladydp2000
copyright@2014
November,14,2014

She dwells in deep canyons cold and dark
To ponder a mystery that haunts her soul
That leaves confusion and doubts in heart
The loss of confidence now takes its toll
To ponder a mystery that haunts her soul
That renders sleepless hours through the night
The loss of confidence now takes its toll
A flower slowly dying withers in sunlight
It renders sleepless hours through the night
The days are shortened and she wastes away
A flower slowly dying withers in sunlight
Her sweet fragrance lost, forever and a day
The days are shortened and she wastes away
What could be this wrong which she has caused?
Her sweet fragrance lost, forever and a day
To fully grasp this puzzle she requires pause
What could be this wrong which she has caused?
What pain has she laid upon your heart?
To fully grasp this puzzle she requires pause
She dwells in deep canyons cold and dark
~*~
By: Audrey Carey
Note: For Paula Swanson's "Pantoum" Contest

my mind is consumed by His hands being pierced
How could men hammer nails through those healing hands?
Just days before, the streets filled with his praises.
I'm confused. The mob shouted "crucify him!".
How could men hammer nails through those healing hands?
When He was born, He was foretold to be King
I'm confused. The mob shouted "Crucify him!"
I wonder how His death could be part of God's plan?
When He was born, He was foretold to be King.
My expectation was an earthly kingdom.
I wonder how His death could be part of God's plan?
Still, I have seen the things Jesus has done.
My expectation was an earthly kingdom.
Some say our Messiah has not yet arrived.
Still, I have witnessed the things Jesus has done.
So I have no doubt He is the Son of God.
Some say our Messiah has not yet arrived.
Just days before, the streets filled with His praises!
So I have no doubt He is the Son of God.
My mind is consumed by His hands being pierced!
This eyewitness would have to wait three days for her answer to be revealed.
For Rob Carmack's Pierced Contest.

She drew her finger slowly through the dust
The dust of all those years and yesterdays
Tears in submission to times gone by
Echoes of laughter came tumbling back
The dust of all those years and yesterdays
Wrapped now in the cloak of memories
Echoes of laughter came tumbling back
Searching for her childhood in this room
Wrapped now in the cloak of memories
Tears in submission to time gone by
Searching for her childhood in this room
She drew her finger slowly through the dust